HP INSIDER

It's funny how sometimes we can learn so much without even trying.  That's kind of how it has been for me recently.  When I started my week as the HP Insider, I had no idea I would end up taking so much away from this experience. I'm not talking about the pictures, the T-shirts, or even the memories, but realizations about myself and life in general. I feel like I could almost write a book, All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Being the HP Insider.

For instance, having been behind the scenes and seeing the players and coaches in their natural state, I've come to understand that the guys really aren't all that different from you and me...aside from being taller, more famous, and having a little more money in the bank. They curse when things go wrong (and apologize later), are sometimes walking zombies in the early morning hours, and yes, they have bad hair days, too. But they eat, sleep, and breathe the same air that you and I do; there's really no need to be starstruck in their presence, because they put their pants on one leg at a time, just like us.
 
I've learned that sometimes in life, it's okay to do something nice for yourself, without having to feel guilty about it later. We all deserve a break from the rat race now and then, even if it does burn half of our vacation time in the first month of the year.  Sometimes, golden opportunities are worth any and every small sacrifice we might have to make.
 
For the better part of my adult life, I have been somewhat of an introvert.  It's not that I am unfriendly or antisocial, but I have always felt like I am not much of a conversationalist.  Now if you give me a pen and paper, a typewriter or a keyboard, I feel comfortable enough to write about anything and everything. I have always been self-conscious because of my size, and for as long as I can remember, I have felt like people judged me based on my physical appearance, rather than taking the time to get to know the Mandi that lurks behind the freckles, glasses, and orange hair.  But the most valuable lesson I have learned over the course of this week is that I am my own harshest critic. So many great people I have come in contact with as a result of becoming the HP Insider have helped me realize that I really do have a lot to offer this world, and I am a genuine, likeable person.  If other people can overlook my physical shortcomings and appreciate the person I am, then maybe I can do the same.
 
I have lived a good portion of my life under a constant fear of rejection and as a result, often been too afraid to put myself out there and try new things. As a matter of fact, I almost talked myself out of entering this contest, thinking I would have no shot at winning anyway.  Thank God for my small circle of friends and family, who kept encouraging me and pushing me to just go for it. However, after my experiences this week, with all the positive feedback I have received from people near and far, both known and unknown to me, I would like to believe that the fear I felt is a thing of the past. I am beginning to understand that it's okay to take chances and fall on my face, as long as I keep getting back up and inching forward.  It's okay to laugh at myself, and even invite others to laugh with me in the process; a sense of humor makes my flaws a little easier to accept.
 
Most importantly, I've learned you should never give up on your dreams, because you never know when the Fairy Godfather might show up and help them come true. A world without dreams is a world without hope. Dreams are what motivate and inspire us to be better people and do greater things with our lives. Sometimes, the biggest obstacle we face in fulfilling our dreams is nothing more than our own fear of failure; but without experiencing failure, we can never truly appreciate the beauty of success.
 
These are the things that I take with me as I walk away from what will probably always be the greatest week of my life, and for that, I am forever thankful and truly blessed.

Here I am, grinning ear to ear at the Jason Terry appearance at Academy.  To think this was just Day One!

Meeting Jet at the back door (that's Clay in the background)

STILL smiling...

Coach Carlisle walked me around introducing me to the guys

Dirk, we meet again!

Hanging around the edges of the action on the practice court before we headed to San Antonio

 Standing on the Spurs' court before the morning shoot around

In my now infamous orange shirt on the sidelines before the Spurs game

Kris Humphries and me after the Spurs game, before he was traded to New Jersey

In the back row on the right are Dad and I, listening intently to Coach's pre-game Q & A before the Jazz game

Dad and I spotted ourselves on the Jumbotron during the Jazz game

After the loss to the Jazz (before Coach arrived in the interview room), I was asked why the Mavs lost..

Dad and me at center court after the Jazz game

Me and my buddy Champ after the Jazz game

Some of the people who made this week so awesome (L-R): Kyle, Kathleen, me, Lauren, Dad and Jay

A bit closer up so you can actually see our faces this time

We took photos all around the building prior to the autograph session on Monday morning

In the cushy leather chairs in front of the Mavs logo

Dirk signing the super cool skateboards

Jason Kidd and me after he scared me half to death

Me and Dirk on his self-proclaimed "bad hair day"

Yeah! Eddie is back in Dallas again

Kathleen, Mark Cuban and me, just prior to the start of the Lakers game

Cuban and me, right before he invited me to follow him onto the court for the player introductions

I'm standing in the thick of things, Mark Cuban by my side, cheering for the Mavs, and all is right with the world

Me, Jay and Kathleen outside the AAC before we called it a night...and a week. That's a wrap!